Can you rank order these strategies from best to worst if these were the only choices and comment as you see fit?

1 - Send clear signals soon (by end of August) to Congress that you will define what is “acceptable victory” for those writing the legislation.

Reality: No. Obama never, ever does this. On anything. Got elected by always doing this. Still does it. Kicks all decision making to others and that way he can play both ends against the middle.

2 - No changes to plan. Let the legislators write. Obama continues to sell and sooner or later the two roads will meet.

Reality: No. He did give them—some— direction when they sat down. BTW, neither side wants reform. I know this is a shock but it’s true. Dems and Repubs are beholden to insurance companies and pharm companies— and their campaign contributions.

3 - Call a timeout. Re-group and come up with a new approach that gives Obama plausible room to say “We heard you and we are adapting”.

No way. Health care has been in committees for 16 years. They’ve been talking reform for 40!
Also, remember— none of this is about health care for the Repubs (and many Dems) It is about 2010.

Obama has to push something through this year. Has to.

4 - Do an LBJ and lean as hard as you possibly can on the Blue Dogs to submit and vote for the bill with a public option.

That’s exactly what IS already happening— problem is, Obama is no LBJ, and the Dems are wusses. The Blue Dogs just want to be re-elected. The other Dems…also want to be re-elected.

Also, the entire Democratic Party is used to being the Republican Party’s bitch.
They like it that way. They’re used to it. They’re the s in a D/s relationship. I’m putting this in snarky terms because it’s a weekend night but I am deadly serious.

5 - Do an LBJ and lean as hard as you possibly can on the progs to submit and vote for the bill w/o a public option.

This is what will likely happen, no leaning required. They’ll kill off the public option, and I and my progressive brethern (?) will freak the fuck out.